Jason Grubb relieved as Lady Cougar basketball coach

By DAVID GRAVELY SWT, Sports Editor

Prior to the regularly scheduled meeting of the Pulaski County School Board on Tuesday a closed door session was held to discuss personnel issues. The result of that session was a vote that will have a big impact on the Lady Cougar basketball program, as Jason Grubb was informed that his coaching contract would not be renewed for next season.

Pulaski County High School Activities Director Scott Vest released a statement this morning concerning the situation. According to a media release, Pulaski County High School Athletic Director Scott Vest has announced a vacancy in the Varsity Girls Head Basketball position formally held by Mr. Jason Grubb.

“We would like to thank Mr. Grubb for his six years of dedication and passion for our students and the girls basketball program,” said Vest.

The release states the position will be posted immediately on the Pulaski County Public Schools website. An acting coach will be named later in the week.

While the decision does come at a time that will allow school officials ample time to find a replacement for the upcoming season, it has also put current players, parents, and assistant coaches in a position to worry about the future of the program.

Most are concerned that the hard work put into forming a productive AAU program will be lost, and that all of the progress made over the past season will slip into reverse.

Sources from within the Pulaski County School System have made it clear that there is no need for concern, and as the press release from Vest makes clear the program will continue to move forward. With the naming of the interim coach this week to keep thing running, fans can fully expect to see the Lady Cougar AAU program continue to do what they’ve done over the past two years.

The Lady Cougars finished the 2013-2014 season with a record of 7-16, an improvement over the 3-19 record from the 2012-2013 season that saw an extremely young Lady Cougar squad playing without several key players due to injuries.

Over the past six seasons, the Lady Cougars have a record of 69-80. The top seasons from that time frame included a 15-12 record in 2008-2009, a 14-12 record in the 2011-2012 season, and a 19-6 record during the 2010-2011 season.

The Lady Cougars have won the River Ridge District Tournament three times in that time frame, and won the district championship in the 2010-2011 season.

Comments

75 Responses to Jason Grubb relieved as Lady Cougar basketball coach

I think the people in this county needs to go ahead and accept whoever gets the position and let bygones be bygones and go forward. Our sports program is whatever the public wants it to be. So lets support whatever and whoever is playing. I think we have the talent and potential to win. Lets stick together and make it the best program ever.

not a sports fan

March 13, 2014 at 1:14 pm

All this talk about hiring Farris? Who in their right mind would even want this job after reading these comments. Farris would be a great fit, but because he has “been there – done that” and knows firsthand what he would be in for with these overbearing unhappy parents!!! I pray he realizes that he doesn’t need to do that again – enjoy your retirement Coach Farris and relax!
Watch the fireworks from a safe distance!!

PC Alumnist

March 13, 2014 at 1:47 pm

Well said both Mike (Harless) and Leah Hallstead about coach Buddy Farris , especially is coaching. As mentioned before, Buddy would be great for girls, and honestly, I think Anthony Akers would be a great guys coach only on the condition of not pleasing ALL players when it comes to handing out trophies for players that don’t deserve them.

Buddy has excellent experience in coaching I think college level as well as high school level basketball. As mentioned before (before “Cooter Dave”) deleted this post is that Buddy KNOWS talent and how to purse that talent. Buddy as well as former girls coach and PC principal Rod Reedy were firm believers of year round basketball meaning that once regular season basketball was over whether a winning or losing year, that all returning or potentially new players were in the gym and the weight room the following week practicing and conditioning themselves for the next season.

Buddy and Rod also had their teams participate in camps of prestigious college basketball programs such as as mentioned earlier before (“Cooter Dave”) deleted which by the way is illegal unless the message is intended to harm or inappropriate). I can remember Buddy and Rod taking their teams to I think the Pat Summit Camp at the University of Tennessee, the University of North Carolina camp, I think the Kay Yow camp at NC State, and the Duke camp. Not only the basketball players learned from this camp, the coaches learned how to become better coaches. (I bet you Dave never knew anything about PC attending these camps or even cared.) Wink..Wink..

Anyway, I bet that many PC girls including Leah Hallstead Hamblin noticed some great results in their game under Reedy and Farris. Honestly, I think Jason Grubb could potentially become a great coach, but right now, should consider becoming an assistant under a great program just learn more about the coaching aspect. Believe you me, it’s common for young and somewhat inexperienced head coaches to become assistants in order to re learn the game. I think if Jason does that, he will excel even more.

Mike

March 13, 2014 at 7:07 pm

Let me get this correct Rod Reedy condoned out of season workouts , I thought that was illegal until recently.

PC Resident

March 13, 2014 at 6:36 pm

It is quite hilarious reading all these post. As for people supporting Akers an Farris, that is just what this county needs. The role models they have been for our kids, and their support for the community is unreal. Yet someone has the audacity to even post about Akers kids!? Unreal!!!Sounds like someone is a little jealous. However, its sad that some people within the county can even be so negative about our leaders/coaches/teachers. It’s a free world, If you don’t like this county, and all ways have something negative to say about someone or how this county is operated. THEN LEAVE!! We don’t need those kinds of people around us or our children. There are plenty of supporters. Away with all the negatives!!!

Carol

March 13, 2014 at 7:35 pm

There. seems to be a lot of things going on at the high school. I get the feeling that the public is not getting the complete story. I am sure there are some good candidates who could be interested in this job. We don’t need to be getting a former coach who is in retirement, also, as to Anthony Akers, he has a job already of running Randolph Park and other youth programs. Can he do his regular job and take on coaching a high school team. Something would suffer. Is he ever called to account on his job when he is already coaching both his kids in basketball. The coach they get should give everyone a chance to play. I think it would be good to get some new people from another area to come here and coach, that is some of PCHS problem. We need someone with new ideas. Get an aggresive, knowledgeable person and this would help the team morale. Teach them the fundamentals and let them play. No politics or someone plays because of who they are.

PC Alumnist

March 14, 2014 at 7:49 am

Another thing to take into consideration is that Jason Grubb may excel well at another school or even college as coach. Just because you may not do well at one place, doesn’t necessarily mean that you may not do well at other places.

There have been many coaches including players in high school, college, and pro in all genres of sports that didn’t do as expected at one location, but did exceptionally well at another. It’s doesn’t pertain to sports, but anything in life.

In a way, this move is the best thing that happened on Jason’s behalf. This would give him an opportunity to venture onto another program, or simply go back and learn step by step how to become a much better coach. Nothing wrong with that at all.

Anonymous

March 14, 2014 at 9:16 am

Lola, What are you talking about? Anthony played the best players. His daughter is great and people from other schools talk about all her talent. His son also has talent. I think that your point of view is slanted because you do not like Anthony. Please don’t take it out on his kids. They are the nicest, most polite, and most humble students that you will ever meet. Sounds like you could be jealous. The games that I saw, his son was playing because he was playing great. Last time, I noticed, Anthony was not coaching the girls team so why blame him because the coach never took her out? Maybe she was good enough that the coach thought she should play. How did you take this coaching situation and turn it around to blast two middle school students. REALLY!!??

concerned

March 14, 2014 at 10:13 am

I know a lot of you get on here and bash Cougar Dave for stirring the pot but let’s examine exactly what is happening in the county. There is an article about one man getting removed from his coaching position and the comments on here have warped into bashing Farris, Akers, Vest, and Jones again.

Guess what. Doesn’t matter, look at all the posts on here. No one will be happy with any choice.

Someone wants all the teachers and coaches to have to live in the county. Some of you want a fresh face from outside and others want someone who knows our kids etc. Hilarious, you wouldn’t be able to staff a single school. What are you going to attract those teachers and coaches with? Oh I know, constantly complaing community who blames school, teachers, coaches for everything, crumbling community and middle school infrastructure, low pay, rising health care costs, drug and crime problems. Where do I sign? We already have many of our best teachers leave, then we have promising teachers come here to get experience and then leave. You have one of the best math teachers in Virginia in mrs. Jones and everyone wants her husband to pack his bags. We, as a community and parents need to wake up, check up on our kids, show up conferences, go to back to school nights, meet with principals and guidance counselors, volunteer to read to our kids or help at our schools. We need to voice our concerns in a proper way. You want to build our community back up, we need to show up in numbers at these events. We can have open and honest debate without turning into a yelling session and then we can see positive change. How many of us message board commandos have plenty of time to offer arm chair advice but not a few minutes to stop by the school and meet face to face with teachers etc. and how many of us have been and watched practices, or ask to sit in on their kids classes for a day to see what’s going on?

Who the heck would want to coach or teach with the constant negativity, personal attacks on their character etc.? Parents ran Buddy Farris out of there years ago, they ran McCulloch out of there a few years ago & he had ties to the community. We better be careful or we may not get anyone to come here or they come and stay a while and leave.

are you kidding?

March 14, 2014 at 12:55 pm

Sixteen coaching positions are vacant in Pulaski County according to the Pulaski County Public School website. Why is this? Are we firing coaches at an alarming rate? Are coaches leaving on their own due to the low rate of pay, pressure to win or criticism from arm chair quarterbacks that respond to public forums like this one? It’s almost funny how the school system chases away the quality coaches with experience and hires their own family members to continue the trend of mediocrity, especially at Pulaski Middle School and the high school. Look at PMS track and girls basketball, high school basketball, cross country and indoor track, football, etc. So many athletes that are being under-developed due to politics….so sad and real.